Plural-lamp socket.



,7 PATENTED MAR. s, 1903.

R. B. BENJAMIN. PLURAL LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1898. RENEWED AUG. 10. 1901. no MODEL.

| z'rzns co. moroumo. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THEBENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLURAL-LAMP' SOCKET.

PECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N0.:721,7 74, dated March 3, 1903.

Application filed May 20, 1898. Renewed August I0, 1901. fierial N0. 7LW

1'0 allfwhont it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plural-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a plural-lamp socket, my object being to provide a compact and cheaply-constructed form of socket for a cluster of incandescent lamps.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a plural socket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the contact adapted to be engaged by the central terminals of the lamps. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bowl-shaped contact-plate which supports the contacts adapted to be engaged by the ring-terminals of the lamps. Fig. 4 is a view of one of the individual sockets. Fig; 5 is a sectional View of a modification wherein the socket is adapted to receive lamps having bases of -the Thomson -I Iouston type, and Fig. dis a view of a further modification. I

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures. v f

Upon the under side of an insulating-base a is supported a bowl-shaped contact-plate I), having oblique side walls and beingsecured at the upper edge to the insulating-base by means of screws a a. Upon the oblique side walls are mounted the threaded'shells b b to receive the lamp-bases. Within this bowlshaped contact plate and supported upon the insulating-base is a contact-plate c,which in the present instance has an upturned ri m'c, which constitutes the contact adapted to be engaged by the central terminal of the lamp when the base thereof is screwed into the shell I). The plate cis secured upon the base a by means of screws 0 0 One of the conductors d is connected with the screw 01, provided upon the plate a, and the other conductor d is connected with a screw (1 mounted upon the plate 1), whereby plates 0 and 12 conshell 6 supported in the present instance by a bushing e secured to the pipe 6 In Fig; 5 I have illustrated a socket adapted forlamps having bases of the Thomson- I-Iouston type. r The contact-plate b is similarl'y supported from the insulating-base a,

which in the present instance is shown as the base of a wall-socket adapted to be secured screw upon the post 0 a number of which are mounted upon a metal base 0 screwed to the under side of theinsulating-base a. A casing eincloses the metal portions of the socket, as in the former instance.

In Fig. 6 I show how insulating bushings or ringsh may be applied to the shells b to insulate the casing e therefrom to assist in holding the casing in place and to, aline the apertures in the case with the threaded shells. Asshown, these bushings or rings are preferably threaded to permit them to be screwed upon the shells. Thebowl-shaped contactplate in each of the forms illustrated herein forms an electrical conductor toconvey current to the ring-terminals of the lamps, thus dispensing with wiring, and at the same time it forms an eifective mechanical support without the provision of any additional supporthaving oblique side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, contacts for the end terminals of the lamps supported within said bowl-shaped contact-plate and placed opposite the openings therein, and means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, substantially as described.

2. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with an insulating-base, of a metallic bowlshaped contact-plate mounted thereon and having oblique side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals, a plurality of metallic threaded shells for the lamp-bases mounted upon said contact-plate and in electrical contact therewith, and contacts for the end terminals of the lamps supported within said bowl shaped contact-plate and placed opposite said shells, substantially as described.

In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with an insulating-base, of a metallic bowlshaped contact-plate secured at the rim or larger end to said insulating-base and having oblique side walls provided witha plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, contacts for the end terminals of the lamps mounted upon said insulating-base within said bowl-shaped contact-plate and placed opposite the openings therein, and means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, substantially as described.

4. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with an insulating-base, of a metallic bowlshaped contact-plate mounted thereon and having oblique side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, contacts for the end terminals of the lamps supported within said bowl shaped contact-plate and placed opposite the openings therein, means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, a shell inclosing said bowl-shaped contact-plateand having a series of openings one opposite each of the lamp-openings in said contact-plate and having an opening in the end opposite the bottom plate or portion ofsaid bowl-shaped contact-plate, and a removable or detachable cap for sealing said latter opening, substantially as described.

5. An electric-lamp cluster, comprising a plurality of metallic receivers for the lamps, a metallic truncated portion carrying the receivers and attached to the base, an electric connection with the receivers, an additional contact for each receiver and an electric connection with said contacts, as set forth.

6. An electric-light-lamp cluster, consisting of a non-conductor base, a metallic truncated lower portion attached to the base and having a plurality of lamp-receivers and suitable electric connections extending to said truncated portion, substantially as described.

7. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with an insulating-base, and a. metallic contact-plate mounted thereon, of a plurality of metallic threaded shells for the lamp-bases, supported thereon and in electrical contact therewith, and contacts for the central-lamp terminals arranged opposite the respective shells, substantially as described.

8. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with a suitable base, of a contact-plate of conducting material mounted thereon having side walls and provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, center contacts for the lamps and means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, substantially as described.

9. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with a suitable base, of a plate mounted thereon having side walls provided with openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals, a plurality of threaded shells mounted on said walls, and central terminals for the lamps, substantially as described.

10. Ina plural-lampsocket,the combination with a suitable base, of a contact-plate having side walls and attached at its rim to said base, said walls being provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp andsocket'terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, center contacts for the lamps, and means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, substantially as described.

11. In aplural-lampsocket,tlie combination with asuitable base, of a contact-plate mounted thereon having side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals'and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, center contacts for the lamps, and means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, a shell inclosing said contact-plate and having a plurality of openings to accommodate the lamps and another opening centrally arranged with relation to the lamp-openings, and a removable or detachable cap for said latter opening, substantially as described.

12. Inaplural-lampsocket,the combination with a suitable base, of a contact-plate mounted thereon having side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, upturned contact portions adapted to be engaged by the central lamp terminals, and means adapted to secure the lamp in operative relation with said conacts, substantially as described.

13. In a plural-lamp socket,the combination with a base having a central projection, of a contact-plate mounted upon said base and having side walls provided with a plurality ofopenings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, upturned contact portions constituting the central contacts mounted upon said central projection of the base, and means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation to said jcontacts, substantially as described.

- with a base having a central opening, of a 14. In a plural-lamp socket,the combination commodate the central lamp and socket terminals, and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, upturned contact portions constituting the central contacts for the lamps and mounted upon said projece tion of the base, and means adapted to secure thelamps inoperative relation with said contacts, substantially as described.

16. In a plural-lam p socket,the combination with ab'ase having a central aperture, of a I contact-plate having side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, a binding-post associated, with said plate, upturned contact portions constituting the central contacts for the lamps, a binding-post associated with said central contacts, and means adapted to secure the lamps in op erative relation-with said contacts, substan? tially as described. 1

17. The combination with a suitable base, of a contact-plate of conducting material having a plurality of openings in the side walls thereof toaccommodate the central la'mp'and socket terminals, the said side Walls carrying the contacts for:the ring-terminals of the lamps, contacts for the center terminals of the lamps, and means to secure the lamps in operative-relation with said contacts, substantially as described. r

18. The combination with a suitablebase, of a contact-plate of conducting material provided with'a plurality of openings toxaccommodate the central lamp and. socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ringterminals of the lamps, contacts for the central lamp terminals, and means to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts,

substantially as described. f

. devices.

19. The combination with a suitable base, of acontact-plate of conducting material provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the second contacts of the lamp-holdingdevices, lamp-holding devices and associated contacts, said contact-plate carrying one contact of each-lamp-holding device, and the second contact thereof being suitably mounted. I

20.. The combination with a suitable base, of a contacteplate of conducting materialhaving side Walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the second contacts of the lampeholding devices, lamp-holding devices and associated contacts, the side walls of .said contact plate carrying one contact of each lamp-holding device, and the second contact thereof being suitably mounted.

21. A lamp-cluster comprising a suitable I shells supported upon said truncated portion opposite said respective openings, a center contact for each shell supported independent-ly. of said truncated portion,'and electrical connections connectingthe shells and center contacts in operative relation, substantially as described. v

22. A lamp-cluster comprising a suitable base, a truncated portion supported thereon having oblique-side walls provided with a pluralityiof openings to accommodate thelampbases, a plurality of metallic threaded shells to receive the lamp-bases mounted u pon-said truncated portion opposite said respective openings, and center contactssupported upon said base independently of the said truncated devices having contacts supported upon said base anda metallic cover or casing having openingsfor the passage of the lamp-bases and independent of said lamp-holding devices.

25. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of lamp-holding devices each having-two contacts supported upon said base, and a metallic cover or casing having openingsfor the passage otthe lamp: bases and independent of said lamp-holding 26. A cluster-lamp fixturecomprising an insulating-base, a plurality'of lam p-receiving shells supported by saidbase and a separate cover. ori'casing.

g27.- A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of threaded shells supported by said base and a separate cover-i or casing. V

28. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, lamp-holding devices and their contacts all mounted upon said insulating-base, and a removable cover.

20. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, lam p-holding devices and associated contacts all mounted upon said insulating-base, and a cover having an opening opposite each lamp-holding device, substantially as described.

30. A cluster-socket comprising a suitable base, lamp-holding devices and associated contacts arranged to hold the lamps in an oblique position relatively to the base, and a cover having an opening opposite each lampholding device, substantially as described.

31. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, a number of lamp-holding sockets with their contacts directly mounted on the insulating-base, and a cover having an opening opposite each lamp-holding device, substantially as described.

32. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, a number of threaded shells and center contacts constituting the lampsockets mounted upon the insulating-base, and a cover having an opening opposite each socket, substantially as described.

33. A cluster-socket comprising a suitable base, lamp-holding devices and associated contacts arranged to hold the lamps in an oblique position relatively to the base and an inclosing cover or casing.

34. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, a removable cover and a number of lamp-holding sockets with their contacts directly mounted on the insulatingbase.

35. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, and a removable cover, a number of threaded shells and center contacts-constituting the lamp-sockets mounted directly upon the insulating-base.

36. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, lamp-holding devices and their contacts all mounted upon said insulating-base, a removable cover, electrical conductors connecting said contacts and carried upon said base, and means, as binding-posts,

supported upon said base for the connection 40. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising a suitable base, a plurality of lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated therewith, a finishing cap or cover having an opening opposite each lamp-holding device to accommodate the lam p-bases,and a removable cap carried upon said cover and centrally arranged with relation to said lamp-holding devices.

41. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising a suitable base, a plurality of lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated therewith, a cover having a plurality of openings one opposite each of said lamp-holding devices to accommodate the lamp-bases, anda removable cap upon said cover and centrally arranged with said openings.

42. The combination with a suitable base, a contact-plate attached at its rim to said base, and carrying a. plurality of openings to accommodate the second contacts of the lampholding devices, lam p-holding devices and associated contacts, said contact-plate carrying one contact of each lamp-holding device and the second contact thereof being suitably supported.

43. The combination with a suitable base, of a contact-plate of conducting material having an outwardly-extending flange secured to said base, said contact-plate being provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the second contacts of the lamp-holding devices, lamp-holding devices and associated contacts, said contact-plate carrying one contact of each lamp-holding device and the second contact thereof being suitably supported.

44. The combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of lamp-receiving devices and associated contacts suitably supported in front of said base, a finishing cap or cover having an opening opposite each of said lampreceiving devices to accommodate the passage of the lamp-bases, a bracket adapted to be attached to the rear of said base, a supporting stem or pipe secured to said bracket, and a finishing cover or casing upon the rear of said base inclosing said bracket and having an opening to accommodate the passage of said stem or pipe, substantially as described.

45. In alamp-socket, an insulating-base, a plurality of threaded lamp-shells occupying oblique positions relatively to the axis of said base and metallic supporting parts for said shells secured to said base by screws or bolts passing axially into or through said base.

46. In aplural-lamp socket,the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of lampreceiving shells suitably supported-thereon in oblique positions, each of said shells being unobstructed throughout its length to per- ICC mil; the lamp-base to pass completely there'- scribed my name in the presence of two witthrough, and center contacts for the respecnesses. tlve shells situated beyond the inner ends thereof, whereby the lamp-holding devices REUBEN B N 5 may be assembled in compact form substan- Witnesses: tially as described. Y .1 WV. CLYDE JONES,

In'witness whereof I have hereunto sub- 1 M. R. ROCHFORD. 

